The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-03-24
nur RrrusEs To DO IT;

equities demand that the Nation shall care for its
patriotic poor and then, officer. refuses TO sign
the law which does the very thing which that OIL
Ger. an individual, pctitioned for.
The President says. ia effect long n the Treas
ury be full what matter II these remnants OF the war
bc empty His appeal lies 10 the taxpayers as against
the patriots. aud he preicnds TO bc deluded with
the idea that by defeating this bill and preventing
the expenditure of any money from the National
Treasury he has projected the taxpayers oi TITS
country from an indefenshe eNaction and touched
the pocket nerve of the people with Joy. How so?
IL these men. Is claimed. are poverty stricken.
then they must be cared for 10y man until they are
cared for 10y death. How shall that be done2 We
say protect them from becoming public charge by
pcnsioninG those that are disabled and dependent.
You answer that 10 do this involves a levy on the
taxpayers.
The fact is that the only way that the pocket of
the general taxpayer can be protected from the
charge OF the maintenance Of these men, II the
position OF the apOlogists Of the President Is cor
rect, j. 10y the
PASSAGE OF THIS VERY BILL.
Those who vote not 10 tax the National Treasury
with their care vote to tax themselves with IL.
And they do so In the face Of the fact that these
men got their disability Ia ~ cases out OF 100 n the
service Of thc Nation and are To day only dcbarred
from receiving pension therefor 10y n technical
failure Of the proof in support Of their claims.
Both Justice To the soldier and the taxpayer de-
maud that the Nation should charge itself with the
protection of these men in their need, who Ia ITS
need protected IL. Nor will this obligation of honor
ever be lesscucd in the estimation of high minded
persons 10y the fact that the bencfCiaries OF this
bin while defending their country We're often over
taken 10y disaster ln their business, which now,
through years of varying struggle and lapsinS
powers ~ mind and body, has at last ripened into
utter and hopeless ruin. leaving them stricken
with are and the infirmities bcguttcn OF exposure
and service. stranded and desoate. with no hand,
save that of chance public charity. TO stay them
they ioiter down the hopeless slope Of life toward
the grave.
From This condition on their part I turn TO that
condition Of things the part Of this Nation when,
moneyless fricndless and beset, IL appealed TO the
patriotism of its citizens threw itself upon the
saved.
manhood was
WORTH MORE THAN GOLD,
and patriotism more than The Government had TO
offer. And now. when the positions are changed
and the Nation is prosperous beyond compTchcn-
sion and they poor, and poor because OF dsa-
bilties contracted in its service IL this Government.
whose Treasury groans with millions sequesieTed
from the circulation. not 10y the Democratic party,
but by a so-called Democratic President, refuses TO
answer from the dead millions of Its surplus the
demands of Justice wrung from the agonies of these
soldiers. then indeed is patriotism dead and man
hood " fled TO british beasts
La support, MIR. Speaker. Of my statement that
these men have got to be supported Dy the neneral
Government, or toy the States and municipalities
where they live. wish to call the attention OF
the House 10 the fact that the States of Michigan.
Illinois Iowa. Nebraska and California have found
" necessary TO provide Homes for the disabled vet
Grams found within their limits, and TO that end
have appropriated large sums OF money and len en-,
tered upon the policy of protecting these men from
the disgrace Of life and death
IN PUBLIC ALMsHoUsE.
Thus are the States, n matter OF proper ana
patriotic pride called upon 10 perform duty which
ought 20 be sacred To the General Government,
while Mr. Cleveland, dsobeying the commands of
Congress and the demands OF honesty and economy,
holds an hundred idle millions in the Treasury TO
the benefit Of honest business interest and 10 the
sole advantage of the money power Of New York
| whose vast corncFing" schemes are thereby adj
yanced either through the ignorance or intention
| of the executive head of the Nation.
The gentleman from Wisconsin Mr.. Bragg mn
dertakes 10 claim that the Grand Army Of tie Re
public are opposed 10 this bill. The gentleman
! knows better. He knows Of the action taken al
| san Francisco al the National Encampment, when
/ the Representatives of The Grand Army unHni-
| nlously indoTse6 this bill. lie knows Furthermore
/ that every Northern Member of this body includ.
( ing himself. has received scores and hundreds o
letters kilograms aud public resolutions from sol
dlefs ana soldier examinations Throughout every
Northern and most OF the Southern Siaics, uenounc
ing the veto Of this bill by the President of the
United States and demanding that their Represent
/ atiVes
PASS 1T OVER HIS HEAD.
| In this connection desire to read "a resolution
which I ask leave 10 print, passed by the Grant
| Army Post Of the genileman's own home, Fond dJ
/ Lac Wis. i. Is follows:
VOICE or THE GRAND ARMY.
/ To The Honorable United States Senator. and Mem
beers of the House Of Representatives from thC
] State Of Wisconsin:
In view OF aud in accordance with the suggestion
made in the circular from Gen. Lucius Fairchild
| Commandcr-in- Chief of the Grand Army of the Re
/ public that each Post express direct To the Mem
bers of Congress the sentiments Of their rcspectv,
/ locality a. 10 the veto Of the so called DepcndCn
| Pension Bill by the President, Edwin A. Brown
| Post No 100. Grand Army of the Republic locateS
/ at Fond du Lac. Wis. has by vote M regular meet
| ing directed me TO respond ia behalf Of this Pos
I as follows:
"While we do not impugn the loyalty or IsooS
faith OF His EXcellency, the President of the Dnet
| States 10y reason of his action, we believe he ha
greatly erred la judgment, and by his veto render
/ ed signal injustice 10 many disabled men, who, IL
| tie days of their strength 10y devotion 90 tia
| cause Of National unity and liberty, and at Tia
peru oi thelr property health anu me lselI hia
D. possible for President Cleveland 10 occupy th
position he does
In other words, we believe il 20 be the duty Q
the Government, the simplest act uf Justice, {,
take care Of those now In distress who took ear
Of and saved the Government when II was IN dis
trcss. and It's life imperilcd
I'VE believe the reasons assigned for the vote
that, If the bin became law, some who are no
entitled TO pension might obtain one-besides be
ing "a reflection upon the ability or integrity of th
1 Pension Department is no reason Whatever Tor ro
fusng assistance to one who. the President himse
admits II entitled 10 pension, and suffering i
the poorhouse, perhaps, for want Of Il.
] We believe the other reason, that because when
| after the Revolutionary War, and the Government
I was burdencd with an enormous debt which
could not pay, no service pensions were granie
until the country had recovered from it, linRncia
cmbarrassIuent-. II not good reason at this umS
| when the annual revenues are far in excess Of In
disbursements, aud when every dollar paid for pei
sions goes directly 10 and among the people. who's
intelligence, loyalty and ability renders u unncS
essary 10 support a large aud expensive standin
army iOr the proper pIoicctoh OF is cllllehs aii
its own life
I'VE believe thai ours is a Government Of III
people, for the people, by the people, aud whe
Z that people, through their cOustituiOnaly clcctc
Z Representatives Ia Congress assembled. by major
ties sufficiently expressive Of the mind Of that PEE
pie 10 convince the most skcptical that they desil
10 take disabled soldiers out Of the poorhouscS.
Is not the proper act Of the President 10 use h
, veto power 10 defeat this grateful wish Of I'll
+ people.
I'VE think the vetoed bill should become a Law
, notwithstanding the reasons urged aud the aciiO
of the President; and that II "A fair test of its pr
visions demonstrates that amendments or alter
!, tions are necessary, we can rely on Congress
: make them"
Dated Feb. l8 1857. g. X. PIER,
a lOnicial Commander.
GEORGE ID. STANTON. Adjutant.
: This Is sound doctrine and ought 10 commRu
A not only the respect but the obedience Of the gel
) temaR from Wisconsin. aud no doubt would Ia
. | not his conscience been already quicted by IL
4 promise Of life appointment
n AT THE HANDS or HIS MASTER.
z The gentleman from Wisconsin Mr.. Braggl M
the gentleman from Ohio Mr.. Warnerl bo
n pleased. in the course OF their attempted defense
q this veto. 10 attack the claim agents aud Law n
responsibility Of the passage Of this act TO theI
The utter uniTuth of this assertion will be appare
10 every thinking mnn on moments refecno
" The fees of the claim agents under existing law n
~ contingent success la the prosecution ofthe pen
d ing claim. Let this bill become law, aud pro
ably 30 per cent. of the men having claims ma
y pending in the Pension Bureau would aband
y them aud proceed under this law. thus yoiding
IL existing contracts aud involving "A loss Of maj
u thousands Of dollars in prospective fees 20 q
y claim agents that these gentlemen charge are nr
Of trying rob themselves of by the passage Of Il
ss act These gentlemen are particularly bitter in th,
y. dcnunciaiions of Capt. Lemon and The NATIoY
20 TRIBUNE, and charge him with desiring To- pass a
"a hill To the end that he may levy blood money
e. these soldiers So FAR is this from being true ia
a in my judgment the passage Of this act over I